Opinion The divisions in Deoband
Theres more to the anti-Vastanvi movement than his statements.
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Deobands Darul Uloom is once again in the headlines unfortunately,for the wrong reasons. The man elected recently as its new vice-chancellor,Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi,had been a member of the high-powered Shura which elected him for 12 years. However,after his election as vice-chancellor on January 10,he found himself under siege. He was attacked from every corner for many reasons,and not merely for his uncalled-for statements on Modi and the Muslims of Gujarat.
First,Vastanvi is not a Qasmi,someone who studied at Deoband. He graduated from a well-known,rival Saharanpur seminary called Madrasa Mazahir Uloom. The strong Qasmi lobby did not approve of a non-Qasmi VC. Second,Maulana Vastanvi has many followers among rich NRI Muslims. A lot of madrasas were established only after Vastanvi recommended them. Those maulvis who never received that help got a chance to teach him a lesson.
Remember,this is the first time in the history of Deoband that elections had to be held for the post of VC. Naturally,the defeated groups will not give up easily. Significantly,and fortunately,the largest sect among Indias Muslim communities the Barelvis have kept themselves neutral on the issue,a commendable,wise and good idea.
Third,Vastanvi does not have the support of the powerful Madani family,the way his predecessor Maulana Marghoobur Rahman did. Rahman was a relative of Maulana Asad Madani,then head of the Jamiat-ul Ulama (United). Vastanvi,too,is a relative of Maulana Arshad Madani,who heads a faction of Jamiat-ul Ulama,and was also a candidate for the VCs post; but,because of Vastanvis political associations,the Madani family might view him as an obstacle. The Jamiat-ul Ulama has already been divided between uncle and nephew,so the Deoband madrasa has become more important for both of them now.
Then there is the question of caste. Vastanvi is neither a Sheikh nor a Syed,but from the Gujarati Sunni Vohra community; he is the first non-forward caste maulana to be elected to his position in Deobands history. The caste factor is so strong,in fact,that it caused open divisions at the Mazahir Uloom as well as the Darul Uloom in the 1980s. Just saying this might lead to my being branded as a player of caste games; but,honestly,despite being from the same society I have a lot of evidence to back up my concerns about the conception of superiority that drives the super-caste ulema.
And leaving caste aside,there are other ethnic considerations too. This was the first time in Deobands history that a non-north Indian was elected,breaking what was,till now,a monopoly. The same interests aligned against the vice-chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University,Professor Abdul Azis,also not north Indian.
There are additionally fears that Vastanvi,being a modern and open-minded man,may support or implement the proposed madrasa board,an idea mooted by the Centre. This proposal was stiffly opposed by those white-collar clerics who control many of the countrys bigger madrasas; they fear being made accountable to the government.
Vastanvi is,nevertheless,admired by thousands among the ulema for his knowledge and personality. In the Shura in particular,most members run their own big institutions with Vastanvis support. After the controversy,when Vastanvi returned to Ahmedabad,he received an overwhelming reception: hundreds of ulema from Gujarat and Maharashtra,in a fleet of 300 cars,arrived at the airport to greet him. That is a clear signal that if Vastanvi is not allowed to run Deoband,the stream of huge donations flowing in from NRIs might well dry up.
The writer is media advisor to the president of the India Islamic Cultural Centre,New Delhi,express@expressindia.com
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